Newsroomhttps://www.bettergov.org/newsroom
The BGA's team of award-winning journalists examines the use and misuse of taxpayer dollars in Chicago, the suburbs and the state of Illinois. It exposes misconduct, hypocrisy and waste while also breaking down complex issues through in-depth investigative stories, detailed explanatory pieces and PolitiFact fact-checks. It works independently of the BGA’s advocacy efforts.
The Newsroom is also responsible for the BGA’s publicly accessible Payroll and Pension Databases and several other tools to help the public understand how their tax dollars are spent.enFact-Check: Preckwinkle Undersells Affordable Housing Program’s Track Recordhttps://www.bettergov.org/news/fact-check-preckwinkle-undersells-affordable-housing-program-s-track-record
There’s some truth to the mayoral finalist’s broader argument, but her claim itself misses the mark.Sun, 17 Mar 2019 14:00 -0500Kiannah Sepeda-Millerhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401869Fact-Check: Despite Claims on Facebook, Chicago ID Card Does Not Allow Voting by Immigrants in the Country Illegallyhttps://www.bettergov.org/news/fact-check-despite-claims-on-facebook-chicago-id-card-does-not-allow-voting-by-immigrants-in
The law hasn't changed. Only U.S. citizens can vote for city, state and federal offices in Chicago.Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:00 -0500Miriam Valverdehttps://bettergov.org/node/1401868Bad Police Fingerprint Work Undermines Chicago Property Crime Caseshttps://www.bettergov.org/news/bad-police-fingerprint-work-undermines-chicago-property-crime-cases
Experts and judges question the quality of fingerprint analysis by Chicago police forensics, hampering prosecutions in burglary and theft cases.Tue, 12 Mar 2019 06:00 -0500Nicole Wetsmanhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401860Fact-Check: Fact-checking Lightfoot’s Record on Police Discipline https://www.bettergov.org/news/fact-check-fact-checking-lightfoot-s-record-on-police-discipline
The mayoral finalist’s percentages check out, but they don’t tell the full story.Sun, 10 Mar 2019 14:00 -0500Kiannah Sepeda-Millerhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401864Las Contradicciones De Emanuel Frente a La Industria Contaminantehttps://www.bettergov.org/news/las-contradicciones-de-emanuel-frente-a-la-industria-contaminante
Un análisis hecho por BGA/Medill revela que las acciones de vigilancia para el cumplimiento de la ley ambiental disminuyeron bajo los dos mandatos del alcalde. El número de inspectores se recortó cuando el alcalde redujo costos.
Mon, 04 Mar 2019 11:55 -0600Brett Chase, Madison Hopkins, Ashley Hackett, AnnMarie Hiltonhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401856Fact-Check: Pritzker Misleads in Dismissing Revenue Alternatives https://www.bettergov.org/news/fact-check-pritzker-misleads-in-dismissing-revenue-alternatives
Like his Republican predecessor, Illinois’ new Democratic governor makes sweeping assertions about tax policy that don’t hold up under closer scrutiny. Sun, 03 Mar 2019 14:00 -0600Kiannah Sepeda-Millerhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401857Fact-checking the Resume-driven Chicago Mayor's Racehttps://www.bettergov.org/news/fact-checking-the-resume-driven-chicago-mayors-race
The crowded contest has featured a variety of boasts and attacks about the candidates’ records. Sun, 24 Feb 2019 14:00 -0600Kiannah Sepeda-Millerhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401855Judge Approves CPS Paying $4M to Family of Teen With Autism Who Drowned in School Poolhttps://www.bettergov.org/news/judge-approves-cps-paying-4m-to-family-of-teen-with-autism-who-drowned-in-school-pool
The Chicago school district also is paying out more than $100,000 to a special education teacher who says he lost his job after raising concerns about special ed staffing issues at the same Southwest Side high school. Fri, 22 Feb 2019 12:00 -0600Lauren FitzPatrick, Katie Drewshttps://bettergov.org/node/1401854Emanuel Soft on Chicago Polluters Despite Tough Talkhttps://www.bettergov.org/news/emanuel-soft-on-chicago-polluters-despite-tough-talk
A BGA/Medill analysis shows environmental enforcement declined under the two-term mayor. City inspection staff was slashed as mayor cut costs.Fri, 22 Feb 2019 05:00 -0600Brett Chase, Madison Hopkins, Ashley Hackett, AnnMarie Hiltonhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401851Cubs Owners Swing For The Fences To Oust Wrigleyville Aldermanhttps://www.bettergov.org/news/cubs-owners-swing-for-the-fences-to-oust-wrigleyville-alderman
The Ricketts family is backing one opponent and supporting a dark-money group against four-term incumbent Ald. Tom Tunney in 44th Ward race.Wed, 20 Feb 2019 09:30 -0600Mia Satohttps://bettergov.org/node/1401847Fact-Check: The Trouble With Mendoza’s Attempt to Pin Illinois’ Budget Crisis on Daleyhttps://www.bettergov.org/news/fact-check-the-trouble-with-mendoza-s-attempt-to-pin-illinois-budget-crisis-on-daley
Mendoza’s ad links rival Bill Daley to the protracted budget crisis that occurred under former Gov. Bruce Rauner in a claim that boils down to guilt by association.
Sun, 17 Feb 2019 14:00 -0600Kiannah Sepeda-Millerhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401844Fact-Check: Preckwinkle Misrepresents Mendoza’s Death Penalty Standhttps://www.bettergov.org/news/fact-check-preckwinkle-misrepresents-mendoza-s-death-penalty-stand
Preckwinkle’s ad implies one of her rivals, Susana Mendoza, opposed ending the death penalty as a state lawmaker. But in 2011 Mendoza voted to abolish — not continue — the practice.Sun, 10 Feb 2019 14:00 -0600Kiannah Sepeda-Millerhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401840Chicago Public Schools to Pay $4M in Special Ed Teen's Drowninghttps://www.bettergov.org/news/chicago-public-schools-to-pay-4m-in-special-ed-teens-drowning
Documents released after a judge lifts a publication ban against the BGA offer new details about failed oversight, warnings that were ignored and "mayhem" at high school pool on the Southwest Side in 2017.Fri, 08 Feb 2019 05:00 -0600Katie Drews, Lauren FitzPatrickhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401839Cook Judge Bars Publication of Documents About Student Drowning, Raising Free Press Concernshttps://www.bettergov.org/news/cook-judge-bars-publication-of-documents-about-student-drowning-raising-free-press-concerns
After CPS lawyer provides BGA with internal records about drowning death of teen with autism, a Cook County judge issues order temporarily prohibiting publication. School district lawyers say they released the documents by mistake.Thu, 07 Feb 2019 05:00 -0600David Kidwell, Lauren FitzPatrickhttps://bettergov.org/node/1401838Millennials and Market Saturation Raise Doubts About New Casino Pushhttps://www.bettergov.org/news/millennials-and-market-saturation-raise-doubts-about-new-casino-push
Talk of new Chicago and Downstate casinos is resurfacing among politicians as an answer to government fiscal woes. But casino revenue is off sharply from its heights, and the industry is struggling to attract younger gamblers.Wed, 06 Feb 2019 14:00 -0600Tim Joneshttps://bettergov.org/node/1401837